This is the first-ever compilation of Thom Bell's productions and arrangements. Put together by Saint Etienne's Bob Stanley, "Ready Or Not" combines some of Bell's biggest and best-loved hits with rarities (an original copy of Connie Stevens' 'Tick Tock' would set you back more than £200) and lesser-known work such as Dionne Warwick's seductive 'Track Of The Cat' and Johnny Mathis' epic 'Life Is A Song Worth Singing'. Star names including Laura Nyro and Lesley Gore line up alongside soul legends Dee Dee Sharp and the Delfonics. This collection will appeal to northern soul collectors as well as pulling in fans of sixties girl singers and lovers of smooth seventies soul. Bob Stanley's sleeve notes - with a rare exclusive interview with Bell himself - and a wealth of rare photos are icing on the cake. Bell's unique and instantly identifiable Philly sound has proved timeless.

Speaking in Snake Tongue is a hand-sculpted relic. Its stark, bent no wave is reminiscent of late 70s New York at a time of rampant political corruption, widespread poverty, the Harlem heroin plague and the Summer of Sam. It is authentic rhythm and soul, perfectly preserved on 1/8th inch cassette tape for more than a decade. BLKLN is a gifted designer of sound and virtuosic guitar player. He's recorded or toured with John Zorn, Jon Hassell, Henry Kaiser, Butch Morris and Tristeza. He makes raw, moving post-punk records in the living room of an apartment in Queens.

Bowlly was born in Lourenço Marques in the Portuguese colony of Mozambique. He was brought up in Johannesburg. After a series of odd jobs across South Africa, including barber and jockey, he sang in a dance band led by Edgar Adeler on a tour of South Africa, Rhodesia, India, and Indonesia during the mid-1920s. Jimmy Liquime hired him to sing with the band in India and Singapore. In 1927 Bowlly made his first record, a cover version of “Blue Skies” by Irving Berlin that was recorded with Adeler in Berlin, Germany. During the next year, he worked in London, with the orchestra of Fred Elizalde. The onset of the Great Depression in 1929 resulted in Bowlly being made redundant and returning to several months of busking to survive. In the 1930s, he signed two contracts, one in May 1931 with Roy Fox, singing in his live band for the Monseigneur Restaurant in London, the other a record contract with bandleader Ray Noble in November 1930. During the next four years, he recorded over 500 songs. By 1933, Lew Stone had ousted Fox as bandleader, and Bowlly was singing Stone’s arrangements with Stone’s band. After much radio exposure and a successful British tour with Stone, Bowlly was inundated with demands for appearances and gigs, including undertaking a solo British tour, but continued to make most of his recordings with Noble. There was considerable competition between Noble and Stone for Bowlly’s time. For much of the year, Bowlly spent all day in the recording studio with Noble’s band, rehearsing and recording, then the evening with Stone’s band at the Monseigneur. Many of these recordings with Noble were issued in the United States by Victor, which meant that by the time Noble and Bowlly came to America, their reputation had preceded them. Al died in 1941 during the London blitz when the door of the room he was in was blown off, striking him and killing him instantly. Thus we lost one of the great vocalists of the early twentieth century. This CD is an attempt to offer some of the very best and most popular numbers he ever recorded for your listening pleasure.

The songs on this collection, recorded in 1968 and 1970 at the Pittsburgh apartment of Ernie Hawkins find Reverend Gary Davis in a relaxed mood. The playing is light and loose at times as he reaches back into his vast musical memory to pull one surprise after another from his “bag of tricks” (his nonchalant term for guitar playing). Fingerpicked on the Rev’s Gibson J-200 and a borrowed Martin D12-35, these performances were not for the stage or the recording studio; rather, they chance upon Davis playing reflectively to himself and Ernie, you the listener privy to the intimate musical camaraderie caught on tape. So while not every note is perfectly played, it is perfectly Davis, who wows us with marvelous additions to his songbook and performances that stretch out in masterly ways: a “Blow, Gabriel” that swells in fiery exhortation over twelve minutes; an emotionally wrenching “Crucifixion” just under twenty minutes with neither note nor word wasted. As the title says, these are rare and previously unissued recordings, ones of historic and musical value. It’s uncommon for an artist to bemuse us anew nearly fifty years after his death, but Davis does so here. “That suits me,” he sings joyfully on the opening track, and I guarantee it will suit you, too.

- Stockfisch Records is happy to present this 40-year-old recording of Craig Hadden & Charlie Carr recreating some of their favorite songs from the 1950s. Originally pressed on vinyl in very small numbers in 1980, this rare recording has now been transferred from the original reel-to-reel master and is being re-released on 180g Vinyl Direct Metal Master LP. Stockfish Records is glad to release the results of this collaboration as the fourth album in its "Analog Pearls" series. Stockfisch-Records started a series called "Analog Pearls". These old analog recordings were chosen because of the fantastic sound. Before releasing as "Analog Pearls" the tracks have been carefully remastered at Stockfisch-Records. Made in Germany. Premastering: Hans-Jorg Maucksch at Pauler Acoustics. DMM Disc Cutting: Hendrik Pauler. Recorded by Gunter Pauler Tonstudio St. Blasien, Northeim, 1979.

In 1979, Chris Jones and Charlie Carr came together to record some of their own songs along with a few traditional pieces. The tapes of this recording lay hidden in the Stockfish archive for 40 years, only to resurface again in 2019. Stockfish Records is glad to release the results of this collaboration as the third album in its "Analog Pearls" series. Stockfisch-Records started a series called "Analog Pearls". These old analog recordings were chosen because of the fantastic sound. Before releasing as "Analog Pearls" the tracks have been carefully remastered at Stockfisch-Records. Heavy Weight High Quality 180g Vinyl LP. Direct Metal Master Cut Vinyl. Made in Germany. Premastering: Hans-Jorg Maucksch at Pauler Acoustics. DMM Disc Cutting: Hendrik Pauler. Recorded by Gunter Pauler Tonstudio St. Blasien, Northeim, 1979

As soon as he became a band leader, Glenn Miller became a magnet for songs with the word, “moon”, in the title. For example, take his first Columbia recording session in April 1935. The second number to be recorded was Moonlight On The Ganges. Even the band’s theme tune was a moon song, Moonlight Serenade. On this CD we have collected all of Glenn Miller’s moon songs. Some you will be familiar with others less known making this a very collectible item for fans of maybe the best dance band of all time.

Brothers Chip and Tony Kinman formed Rank & File after splitting up with hardcore punk band, The Dils, and added Nuns' guitarist Alejandro Escovedo to the lineup. Sundown was the exceptional debut released in 1982. The band combined a misture of punk rock and classic country together to create an artfully robust album with themes ranging from heartache to blue-collar woes. Hailed for its strong writing and harmonies, Sundown was ahead of the curve and would become a key influence for future alternative country acts. 150-gram translucent red vinyl.

Artie Shaw (born Arthur Jacob Arshawsky; May 23, 1910 - December 30, 2004) was an American clarinetist, composer, band leader, and actor. Also an author, Shaw wrote both ?ction and non-?ction. Widely regarded as “one of jazz’s ?nest clarinetists”, Shaw led one of the United States’ most popular big bands in the late 1930s through the early 1940s. Though he had numerous hit records, he was perhaps best known for his 1938 recording of Cole Porter’s Begin the Beguine. Before the release of “Beguine”, Shaw and his ?edgling band had languished in relative obscurity for over two years and, after its release, he became a major jazz artist within short order. The record eventually became one of the era’s de?ning recordings. Musically restless, Shaw was also an early proponent of what became known much later as Third Stream music, which blended elements of classical and jazz forms and traditions. Shaw also recorded with small jazz groups drawn from within the ranks of the various big bands he led. He served in the US Navy from 1942 to 1944, (during which time he led a morale-building band that toured the South Paci?c amidst the chaos of World War II and, following his discharge in 1944, he returned to lead a band through 1945. Following the breakup of that band, he began to focus on other interests and gradually withdrew from the world of being a professional musician and major celebrity, although he remained a force in popular music and jazz before retiring from music completely in 1954. This CD features two rare “live” radio broadcasts, ?rstly from the Blue Room, Hotel Lincoln, NYC, on the 25th of November 1938, and from the same venue on the 13th of December 1938.

Ian Stewart was born of a Scottish father and American mother in December 1908. He spent his early years in the popular seaside town of Seaton in glorious Devon. He became a chorister at Salisbury Cathedral and at eighteen was organist at a church in the neighbouring county of Somerset. He formed his own dance band before leaving Devon. He managed to secure the position of M.D. to a long forgotten show called “So This Is Love”. Then he joined a music publisher before heading “Stateside”, where he really hit the “Big-Time”, regularly broadcasting on NBC. Back in the U.K. in ‘35 he fulfilled a long held ambition to play in the band of Carroll Gibbons at London’s Savoy Hotel. Come the war he joined the 17th division of the “London Scottish” serving with distinction in India and Burma in which time he became a Brigade Major and earned an MBE. Free again in 1946 he formed an orchestra for the Savoy’s sister establishment, the Berkeley Hotel in Knightsbridge and began broadcasting the following year. The BBC had begun a twice daily half hour of nonstop popular music called “Music While You Work” early in the war, for relay over “Tannoy” speakers in factories in order to keep up morale and step up production and it’s probably in this connection that Ian will be best remembered - he featured on it two hundred and sixty four times over some twenty years as well as on several other musical features.

Reissue.

We continue our popular series of nostalgic recordings, this time featuring the best hits of 1951. It was the year that North Korean and Chinese troops captured Seol. French forces held back Viet Minh offensive on Tonkin. Lieutenant-General Ridgway replaced General MacArthur. The Persian oil industry was nationalised. Festival of Britain opened. British diplomats Burgess and Maclean vanished. King Leopold of the Belgians abdicated. King Abdullah of Jordan assassinated. U.S., Australia and New Zealand signed the Tripartite Security Treaty. Japanese Peace Treaty signed. Pakistan’s prime minister Ali Kahn assiassinated British troops seizes the Suez Canal Zone. Conservatives won British General Election. Churchill became thePrime Minister again. Libya became independent. After his firing by President Truman, General MacArthur addressed a joint session of Congress. The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution limits Presidents to two terms. President Truman fired General MacArthur as Commander of Allied Forces in Korea, for challenging U.S. foreign policy by threatening to attack coastal China. United Nations forces pushed Communist troops back to the 38th Parallel. In November negotiators agree on a truce , but it is short-lived. UNIVAC , the first commercially manufactured computer was introduced to the world of commerce and science.

The Glenn Miller Birthplace Society Newsletter of March 2020 states that in 2020 the Birthplace and Museum will celebrate the 80th anniversary of Glenn becoming “King of the Jukeboxes” across the U.S. It was reported that during 1940 two out of three records in jukeboxes at soda fountains, diners, and restaurants were Miller discs. That is 67%. Be that as it may, there were other contenders for the juke box throne that year and besides featuring Glenn Millers hits this CD also features the juke box hits of Tommy Dorsey, Bing Crosby, Kay Kyser, The Ink Spots, Charlie Barnet, Orin Tucker amongst others. A nostalgic trip back to the early 1940s.

1955 can be said to be the year that Rock ‘N’ roll rose to prominence on the music scene. This CD is a continuation of our Best Years Of Our Lives series which presents the best popular and significant music of a particular year, maybe the year you were born, maybe the year you romanced your best girl, or maybe just to wallow in nostalgia for a time that is no longer with us. Whatever your reason for buying this CD we hope you enjoy.

(10% DISCOUNT THRU 8/28/20) FIRST TIME ON BLU-RAY AND IN HD! La-La Land Entertainment presents a very "special" 20th Anniversary limited edition Blu-ray of THE SPECIALS, marking the film's world premiere release in high-definition. Featuring a brand new 2K scan and restoration from the film's interpositive, with lossless 5.1 & 2.0 audio for the first time, new and vintage bonus features, and all-new front cover art by artist Paul Shipper. Meet THE SPECIALS! They're the sixth (okay, maybe the seventh) greatest superhero team in the entire world. At their modest suburban headquarters, The Strobe (SIDEWAYS' Thomas Haden Church), The Weevil (PARKS AND RECREATION's Rob Lowe), foul-mouthed Amok (SCREAM 1&2's Jamie Kennedy), Ms. Indestructible (CRIMINAL MINDS's Paget Brewster, Deadly Girl (HALLOWEEN 2018's Judy Greer), new member Nightbird (CABIN FEVER's Jordan Ladd) and the rest all spend their time bickering, having extramarital affairs, and preparing for the grand unveiling of their own action figure line. But when a furious Strobe suddenly disbands the group, who will be there for the oddballs, rebels, outcasts and geeks? Before they save the world, can they save themselves? Kelly Coffield (IN LIVING COLOR), Michael Weatherly (DARK ANGEL), Chase Masterson (DEEP SPACE NINE) and Melissa Joan Hart (SABRINA) co-star in this hilarious cult hit from director Craig Mazin (creator of HBO's CHERNOBYL) and screenwriter James Gunn (Writer/Director of GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY I&II). Check out the red-band trailer: https://youtu.be/szZj1GLuMA0 "SPECIAL" FEATURES: NEW! 2K SCAN OF THE INTERPOSITIVE NEW! THEATRICAL TRAILER in 1080p NEW! MOJO's MAGIC: The "Specials" Effects FEATURETTE 2000 AUDIO COMMENTARY: Director Craig Mazin, Writer/Actor James Gunn, Producer Mark A. Altman and Visual Effects Supervisor Mojo 2005 AUDIO COMMENTARY: Writer/Actor James Gunn and Actress Paget Brewster DELETED SCENES, WEDDING VIDEO, TOY COMMERCIAL, BEHIND-THE-SCENES PHOTOS SPECS: FEATURE: Video: 1080p High-Definition Widescreen (1:78:1) - Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, LPCM 2.0 - English Subtitles - 2000 - Running Time: 82 Minutes - Rated R TRAILER: Video: 1080p High-Definition Widescreen (1:78:1) - Audio: LPCM Stereo 2.0 SPECIAL FEATURES are not rated. Color, Region Free

The long-awaited follow-up volume to the successful "Memphis Boys: The Story of American Studios" (CDCHD 1330) showcasing the brilliant accompaniments of this top session group, directed by Chips Moman. This new release focuses primarily on the studio's sublime southern soul output by headline stars and lesser knowns, primarily from quality labels such as Atlantic-Atco, Bell-Amy-Mala and John R's Sound Stage 7 in the years 1967-72. The vast majority of tracks are making their Ace CD debut. Soulful tracks by Jerry Lee Lewis, Dusty Springfield, the Box Tops and Elvis Presley sit easily here, along with a rare cut by Darlene Love and the Blossoms. Features the studio group's extraordinary guitarist Reggie Young, who has two well-received Ace CDs to his name: "Forever Young" (CDCHD 1500) and "Reggie Young: Session Guitar Star" (CDCHD 1537). Compiled by experts John Broven and Red Kelly (known as the Soul Detective), who has written a detailed note to go with an introduction from Memphis Boys keyboardist Bobby Wood. A beautifully illustrated booklet completes the package.

This is a very special CD. Fats Waller made many commercial recordings during his lifetime, but he also made a number of private recordings at his home with friends, where they would try out new ideas for songs. In the early 1960s our friend John R. T. Davis received from America a number of recordings on discs. Unfortunately when the discs arrived most of them had been smashed in transit. Undaunted John set about joining the discs like a jigsaw puzzle. gluing the pieces together and then using his considerable skill to re-record them. However the technology available at the time did not allow him to remove the unwanted artifacts, he did however save the recordings for posterity. Come 2020 the year of the Corona virus and forced lockdown gave Submarine the time we have always wanted to finish John’s work, and using the latest technology, finish the restoration he started. So we now offer these very rare restored recordings which also contain comments and performances by Fats and his friends James P, Johnson, Gene Sedric, Andy Razaf, Eubie Blake and others.